Matching Items (6)
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- All Subjects: Alzheimer's Disease
- Creators: James, Darith
Description
As Alzheimer’s disease (AD) increases in incidence, there is an increased investigation into the pathogenesis of the disease in hopes of finding a cure to the neurodegenerative disease. The two key hallmarks of AD consist of amyloid beta plaques and hyperphosphorylated tau fibrillary tangles. Amyloid beta is a peptide that is proteolytically cleaved from the type I transmembrane glycolytic amyloid precursor protein (APP). APP is highly conserved across species, suggesting the importance of APP in healthy brain functioning. However, when APP is cleaved through the amyloidogenic pathway it produces amyloid beta. The trafficking of APP within neurons has been a new endeavor for neurodegenerative disease research, as reduced retrograde trafficking of APP has been hypothesized to increase the likelihood of the amyloidogenic cleavage of APP, resulting in increased amyloid beta presence (Ye et al., 2017). The findings of this study suggest that transport of APP within neurons is significantly inhibited by increased extracellular glutamate concentration. The addition of human primary astrocytes within a human neuron co-culture allowed for significantly increased retrograde transport of APP within neurons, even within high glutamate conditions. These finding enhance the current field of research regarding astrocytes neuroprotective role within the brain, but bring attention to the role that astrocytes have upon regulation of the axonal transport of proteins within neurons.
ContributorsKlosterman, Katja Elisabeth (Author) / Ros, Alexandra (Thesis director) / Redding, Kevin (Committee member) / Watts College of Public Service & Community Solut (Contributor) / School of Molecular Sciences (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2019-12
Description
Informal caregivers to persons with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) commonly experience high levels of perceived burden, stress, and low quality of life— outcomes that negatively affect the quality of care provided. Yet to be explored are the effects of heart-focused breathing, a self-regulation deep breathing technique, on perceived caregiver burden and heart rate variability (HRV), a measure of autonomic nervous system function. Considering the high attrition rates of many previous in-person AD caregiver interventions, it may be necessary to implement an online intervention to address perceived caregiver burden. This study aimed to test the trends in effects of a 2-week online heart-focused breathing intervention using HeartMath’s Heart Lock-In® technique on perceived caregiver burden, perceived stress, quality of life, anxiety, inner haven, self-compassion, and HRV in a population of AD caregivers. Ten informal AD caregivers participated in the study with five participants randomized into the waitlist control group and five into the intervention group. The intervention group practiced a 10-minute heart-focused breathing protocol using their smart device (i.e., phone) every day for a 2-week period. Participants completed pre- and post- self-report questionnaires online via Google Forms and HRV assessments via the Welltory mobile application. The HRV assessments measured rMSSD, high frequency, and low frequency. The intervention group did not experience improvements related to perceived caregiver burden, perceived stress, anxiety, inner haven or high frequency waves. However, the study results suggest positive trends in quality of life, self-compassion, rMSSD, and low frequency waves among the AD caregivers. Additional research within a larger and more diverse population is needed.
Keywords: Informal Alzheimer’s caregivers, perceived caregiver burden, heart-focused breathing, heart rate variability
Keywords: Informal Alzheimer’s caregivers, perceived caregiver burden, heart-focused breathing, heart rate variability
ContributorsJames, Taylor Anne (Author) / Larkey, Linda K. (Thesis director) / James, Darith (Committee member) / Edson College of Nursing and Health Innovation (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2020-05
Description
The purpose of this project is to present research within three main categories of treatment and care such as exercise, socialization and alternative therapies (art, pet, and reminiscent therapies) for Alzheimer’s Disease (AD). These categories will be examined in the following countries: United Kingdom, United States, Brazil, and China. Then, the synthesized material will be analyzed and placed into a comparison and contrast model showcasing what each country is currently using and the success of the particular resource within a heat map. According to the research found on the following categories of exercise, socialization and alternative therapies, I will conclude that a combination of aerobic and resistance training, routine support groups and art/pet therapies are the most effective treatment options against Alzheimer’s Disease.
ContributorsLew, Arianna Freedom (Author) / Lupone, Kathleen (Thesis director) / Holzapfel, Simon (Committee member) / School of Life Sciences (Contributor) / Watts College of Public Service & Community Solut (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2019-05
Description
Objective: To examine the change in caregiver burden, stress, and heart rate variability (HRV) scores when family caregivers (FCG) of patients with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) used heart rate variability biofeedback (HRVB). Additional factors that could potentially moderate the effects of HRVB, such as education and income level, were separately examined.
Methods: An 8-week HRVB intervention was compared to a music listening control (MLC) condition for 30 family caregivers (FCGs) of individuals with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) (and related dementias: ADRD). Analysis per education and income level were separately conducted.
Results: The HRVB intervention with higher education and lower-income individuals showed more favorable HRV outcomes (noted to be slightly decreased in higher-income individuals). Perceived stress was reduced for both intervention groups, and caregiver burden levels decreased for all income groups, particularly in those with lower incomes.
Discussion: Future researchers should increase the sample size, explore stratification based on income and education levels, and consider gender-based divisions, as these factors could yield valuable insights.
ContributorsMathews, Megan (Author) / Vizcaino, Maricarmen (Thesis director) / Larkey, Linda (Committee member) / James, Darith (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / College of Health Solutions (Contributor)
Created2023-12
ContributorsMathews, Megan (Author) / Vizcaino, Maricarmen (Thesis director) / Larkey, Linda (Committee member) / James, Darith (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / College of Health Solutions (Contributor)
Created2023-12
ContributorsMathews, Megan (Author) / Vizcaino, Maricarmen (Thesis director) / Larkey, Linda (Committee member) / James, Darith (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / College of Health Solutions (Contributor)
Created2023-12